America in the Morning from Westwood One Produced by: Tom Cusic Host: John Trout Today is Friday, July 3, 2026 — the 184th day of 2026. 181 days remain this year.

Today on America in the Morning

Heat Wave Impacts Fourth of July

Extreme heat blanketing much of the country is affecting this weekend's celebration of the nation's 250th birthday in Washington.

Reflecting Pool Indictment

A Reflecting Pool indictment—and two very different stories. Rich Johnson explains the Justice Department has indicted a former Olympic athlete, accusing him of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Holiday Weekend Forecast

Will your backyard grilling mean sweltering heat or dodging raindrops? AccuWeather Meteorologist LaTroy Thornton has the all-important Independence Day weekend forecast.

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Wedding

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are expected to host their wedding Friday night at Madison Square Garden, according to an AP source. Correspondent Ed Donahue reports.

Venezuela Earthquake Rescue

A Venezuelan security guard has been pulled alive from a building basement eight days after twin earthquakes. Correspondent Karen Chammas reports.

Wall Street

The U.S. stock market is closed today. Seth Sutel has a recap of Thursday's trading.

Hiring Slows

U.S. hiring fell to just 57,000 jobs in June amid elevated inflation and global economic uncertainty. Correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.

Mortgage Rates

The average 30-year mortgage rate has fallen to 6.43%, its lowest level in seven weeks. AP correspondent Alex Veiga reports.

Entertainment

Entertainment reporter Kevin Carr says if you haven't gotten enough of the Minions, you're in luck.

Nancy Guthrie Investigation

Some ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie are still being investigated as legitimate, according to the FBI. Correspondent Donna Warder reports.

Dangerous Holiday Heat

Finding relief from the heat this Fourth of July weekend will be difficult across much of the eastern United States. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.

AI and Energy Demand

Extreme heat is increasing pressure on areas with large data centers, renewing debate over artificial intelligence's growing energy demands. Lisa Dwyer reports experts are urging better long-term planning.

Second Half

Severe Weather Outlook

AccuWeather Meteorologist LaTroy Thornton has the latest on severe weather threats across the country.

Heat Wave in Washington

John Stolnis reports extreme heat blanketing much of the country is affecting this weekend's celebration of the nation's 250th birthday in Washington.

Reflecting Pool Vandalism

Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports a former U.S. Olympian has been indicted on a felony charge for the alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Immigration Enforcement

Correspondent Ed Donahue reports ICE arrested 10,000 people over five days in a sharp late-June increase in the Trump administration's deportation effort.

Louisiana Attorney General Indicted

A grand jury has indicted Louisiana's attorney general in a dispute involving changes to the local court system. Correspondent Jennifer King reports.

Shark Attack Alert System

An Alabama teen's shark attack has inspired a new federal alert system designed to improve public safety. Correspondent Lisa Dwyer reports.

Whale-Watching Boom

Sightings of humpback whales are surging off Rio de Janeiro, fueling increased demand for whale-watching excursions. Correspondent Ben Thomas reports.

1,000 Days of War

Correspondent Joseph Federman reports on the uncertain future facing Gaza as Palestinians and Israelis mark 1,000 days of war.

Technology

Ford has brought back 350 veteran engineers after artificial intelligence fell short on quality control. The move is already producing savings and earning top-quality rankings. Chuck Palm has the story.

Sports

Robert Workman has the latest from Major League Baseball, the FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, and Alexander Ovechkin.

Americans and the World Cup

Correspondent Marcela Sanchez reports that while Americans are embracing this year's World Cup, a new survey suggests the U.S. still isn't truly a soccer nation.

Empire State Building Proposal

Ed Donahue reports on the court appearance of a couple charged with felonies after climbing the Empire State Building and staging a marriage proposal.

America's Field TripJoan Jones presents Part 5 of our Salute to America series, highlighting the America's Field Trip contest, which gives students the opportunity to visit historic sites while inspiring a deeper appreciation of the nation's history this Fourth of July weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices